The Rose Revolution in November 2003 opened the door for Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) to build a direct partnership with the law enforcement sector of Georgia. After years of investing funds in programs that only indirectly impacted the police community, INL has the opportunity to provide direct assistance.

The two reform decisions to build American-style law enforcement and legal reform systems (consistent with international standards) have made U.S. advice and assistance more important than ever. With the arrival of a resident INL Officer in 2004, a strong foundation for law enforcement cooperation and reform has taken shape, although some program implementation has been slower than expected due to constant shifts in GOG ministry personnel.

Program Components/Accomplishments:

Criminal Justice Sector Reform Program: This project provides an in-country Resident Legal Advisor (RLA) – a U.S. Justice Department federal prosecutor who assists the GOG with implementation of the Criminal Procedure Code, supports the reforms of the Procuracy, development and implementation of an anti-corruption initiative, and develops an anti-trafficking initiative and training program. With RLA assistance, the Georgian Parliament passed a Council of Europe and FATF-compliant anti-money laundering law; a U.S. style plea-bargaining law, and anti-child pornography legislation. In 2008, the RLA and visiting U.S. legal practitioners assisted a Georgian drafting group with reforming the Criminal Procedure Code that will be compliant with international standards and will facilitate effective criminal investigations and prosecutions.

Law Enforcement Academy Development: The Georgian Government adopted a tactical, American style training approach to train its national police force. INL funded the construction of a new building provides classroom space for 250 and housing for 130 students. In addition to facilities renovation, INL funded technical experts to assist with curriculum development and regularly provides training in various aspects of law enforcement, including defensive tactics, officer safety and survival skills, traffic enforcement and weapons training using a virtual reality non-lethal weapons simulator. INL is currently working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to design and build a modern firing range, so that officers can be properly trained to safely and effectively use their sidearm. INL recently funded renovation of several rooms to house the academy's new English Language Center, and provided assistance for curriculum development and instruction. In addition, the INL office is working in coordination with the FBI LegAtt to deliver specialize training at the ILEA in Budapest and at the FBI Academy in the U.S. to increase the knowledge and skills required to investigate sophisticate crimes that are of mutual U.S.-Georgian interest.

Forensic Development: This project aims to bolster Georgia’s forensic capacities to meet international standards and procedures in preparation for Georgia's impending transition to a jury-trial system. Georgia's National Forensic Bureau has the only DNA lab in the Caucasus region developed with INL-funded technical assistance. INL and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are partnering in a major renovation of the laboratory building. INL partners with contractors and other federal agencies to provide training in the proper collection, storage and analysis of criminal evidence.

Criminal Law Reform: The American Bar Association’s program approach in Georgia is to provide technical assistance in order to build the capacity of key Georgian stakeholders within the justice sector, including defense attorneys, public defenders and judges. ABA partners and beneficiaries include the Georgian Bar Association, Legal Aid, the Georgian Young Lawyers Association, the High School of Justice (HSOJ), the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), and High Council of Justice (HCOJ). In addition to providing targeted training programs in the capital and throughout the regions, the ABA provides institutional support to the above entities and seeks to develop the capacity within the legal community to institutionalize reform efforts. To that end, the ABA works directly with a core group of Georgian legal experts in the design and implementation of all training programs. Through advanced trainings and training of trainers (ToT) courses, the ABA seeks to equip Georgian experts with the skills and knowledge necessary to independently carry out activities. Furthermore, the ABA cooperates closely with the U.S Embassy and the RLA, along with other representatives of the international community, to coordinate efforts and to maximize USG support.

Legal Socialization Project: Started in 2009, Project Harmony (PH) works within the education system to build relationships between the police and wider community, including high schools students and educators. PH establishes positive working relationships with school personnel and police officers and relevant Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Education personnel. PH is designing and expanding strategies that incorporate and support community policing as a juvenile justice approach which includes the development and implementation of prevention strategies involving law enforcement working with or in Georgian secondary schools. PH also draws local NGOs into relationships with the police and other GOG authorities and is establishing “citizen advisory boards” to enhance key partnerships with lead governmental ministries, local NGOs, community-based groups, and private citizens.

Communications Expansion: 1) The TETRA Emergency Communications System is based on the needs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MOIA). It includes the purchase and installation of base station radios which will provide Georgia a system that allows government agencies to communicate in a secure manner and which can serve as an emergency response communications system. 2) The Patrol Police Communications project involves the expansion of the current software implementation, procurement, installation, training and testing of the Georgian language Patrol Police system and mobile on-line information and communication system called “ERMOS”. Equally important is the data quality improvement and further enhancement and integration of the current Criminal History and Wanted Person Database (CHD) which improves the effectiveness of the Patrol Police by providing on-line access to the database that is continuously updated to include the most recent information on Wanted Persons. This objective is specifically aimed to boost the effectiveness of the Georgian Patrol Police in their participation in the War on Terror and their fight against drug trafficking.

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